Fraudster freed after conning man of 35,000 Euro
Anne Gillen, aged 56, of Bentley Villas, Dún Laoghaire, pleaded guilty to a number of sample charges of fraud and deception, including using a bogus general power-of-attorney form, and a false bank mandate to induce staff at Permanent TSB in Dún Laoghaire and Blackrock to give her cash.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a five-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court but suspended it fully on a number of conditions, including that Gillen attends addiction services.
She said Gillen seemed to show remorse after reflecting on her behaviour during four months in custody.
Diarmuid Collins BL, prosecuting, said Gillen's partner at the time, Joseph Potts, was made the legitimate power of attorney for his intellectually disabled uncle, Joseph Murray, in 2009 after Mr Murray?s mother passed away.
Mr Potts' brother, Christopher, a second power of attorney, subsequently noticed €35,420 had been taken from Mr Murray's account. He told gardaí in November 2010 after making enquiries at the bank.
Sgt Barry O'Connor said gardaí later established that a number of documents provided to the bank to allow Gillen to withdraw the cash had been falsified.
While a general power of attorney giving permission to Mr Potts to access the account was genuine, a second one giving authority to Gillen had been forged.
Gillen withdrew the cash from February to September 2010. She was arrested in August 2011. Sgt O'Connor said the victim has not had any of the money returned to him and the bank has not refunded him.
He agreed with Patrick Reynolds BL, defending, that Gillen had an alcohol problem and was addicted to prescribed medication.
Mr Reynolds said his client claimed she had 'assistance in spending the money', which was principally spent on drink.
Judge Ring noted that Gillen was at moderate risk of reoffending but said she was 'clearly a woman of ability' who had expressed a desire to continue to work.
